How I Got Into Optometry School

Applying to optometry school, or schools in other health professions, can feel overwhelming for many prospective optometry students. With so many resources offering conflicting advice, it’s hard to know where to start so this is my guide on How I got into Optometry School. Optometry school is an intensive four-year program that demands both academic excellence and unwavering commitment, especially during the first two years when the coursework is most rigorous. This applies to other health professional schools such as medical schools, and dental schools! Given that there are only two optometry schools in Canada and just 23 in the United States, standing out as a strong applicant is essential. In this article, I’ll share how I got my acceptance into the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry (including tricks for all the schools in the United States), how my passion for the field developed throughout my undergraduate studies, and the key steps I took to become a competitive applicant for the Optometry program.

I. First Year of Undergrad (Sept 2017 – Apr 2018)

In September 2017, I started my undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada. At this point, I had thought about pursuing optometry, along with other fields in healthcare, but was not entirely ready to commit to the process. To gain more insight, I joined the UBC Pre-Optometry Club in hopes of meeting other people in the same boat as me and in search of opportunities to find out if the field was for me. In the faculty of science at UBC, we do not declare our major until second year, so I was enrolled in general introductory science courses in my first year. These courses included introductory Chemistry, Biology and Physics courses with corresponding labs, as well as calculus and English. With the heavy first-year course load in addition to the overwhelming transition into university, my main focus was to do well in school and keep my options open. By the end of my first year, I had found a part-time job at an optometry clinic as an optometry assistant after being encouraged by my peers to get some experience in the field and figure out if I wanted to commit to pursuing optometry.

In the summer after my first year, I enrolled in summer courses to get a head start on my second year and get some of the harder courses out of the way. For instance, I took a second-year Organic Chemistry course that summer because it is notorious for being more challenging and I wanted to have the summer to focus on doing well. At the same time, I continued working once a week at the optometry clinic. I was able to ask questions, learn about the different pre-testing machines and techniques used on patients, gain insight into how optometry clinics run, and occasionally shadow doctors in the exam room. My experience at the clinic really helped me reflect on whether or not I could see myself being an optometrist in the future and figure out if optometry was the right path for me. If you are trying to figure out if optometry is right for you, check out this article.

II. Second Year of Undergrad (Sept 2018 – Apr 2019) 

In September 2018, I started my second year at UBC. At this point, I was pretty sure about optometry and I had declared my major in Biology. I chose Biology because it interested me – at the same time, despite the list of required first and second-year courses for a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, the course requirements for the third and fourth years of the degree were much more flexible. I thought this would allow me to not only fulfill the pre-requisite courses for optometry programs but also pick a more diverse set of courses that piqued my interest while fulfilling the graduation requirements for my bachelor’s degree. Up to this point, I had done some research on pre-requisite courses for various optometry programs. Specifically, I focused on the optometry program at the University of Waterloo, as it is the only English-speaking optometry school in Canada. Therefore, I spent my second year taking required courses for my biology degree while trying to see if I could select courses that would fulfill the Waterloo optometry pre-requisite course list at the same time. My second year was equally, if not more, academically challenging compared to my first year, so I continued to focus on doing well in school while working at the optometry clinic once a week.

In January 2019, I started shadowing for half a day at another optometry clinic. I was still working once a week at the first clinic, but I wanted to gain more exposure to the clinical side of optometry. Through this opportunity, I was able to meet more doctors and like-minded students, which further reinforced my reasons for pursuing optometry. Around February 2019, I started looking into the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), which is a standardized test required for admission into optometry school. Students usually apply for optometry school in the summer after their second or third year to be admitted right after their third or fourth year. However, OAT scores expire two years after taking the exam, so I was not sure yet how early I wanted to take the OAT and apply for optometry programs. Tentatively, I decided to register for the OAT with a plan to start studying in May 2019 after my second year and take the exam sometime that summer. If you would like more information on the OAT, feel free to check out our other articles on: How to Study for the OAT, What to Expect on OAT Exam Day, Strategizing Your OAT Test Date, How Is the OAT Scored, What Is a Good OAT Score, When to Reschedule Your OAT, and Retaking the OAT.

When May 2019 rolled around, I began studying for the OAT. This was when I realized how much I had signed up for and that I was not ready to start applying to optometry schools that summer. Instead, I focused on studying for the OAT and took the exam in mid-August. I also reasoned that if I was going to complete three years of undergraduate studies, I might as well study for another year to obtain my bachelor’s degree.

III. Third Year of Undergrad (Sept 2019 – Apr 2020)

In September 2019, I started my third year at UBC. At this point, I had finished most of the prerequisite courses for the University of Waterloo. I still had a bunch of required courses for my bachelor’s degree, so I spent this school year working on completing them. Outside of class, I continued my involvement in school clubs, kept working and volunteering at the two optometry clinics, and also worked as a peer tutor for an introductory biochemistry class. I also did not want to risk only applying to one school, so I started doing research on schools in the US. Some common US optometry schools that Canadians apply to are Pacific University College of Optometry (PUCO), New England College of Optometry (NECO), and Illinois College of Optometry (ICO). Many pre-optometry students will apply for US optometry schools, but the application is quite different from the Canadian system and there are more factors to consider – check out our article on Applying to US Schools as a Canadian Student for more information. I also considered different factors and optometry school statistics when choosing which US optometry schools to apply to. Eventually, I decided to apply to Pacific University College of Optometry (PUCO), Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), and Arizona College of Optometry (AZCOPT).

In July 2020, after my third year, I started my applications to Waterloo and schools in the US. The Waterloo application opens in July and closes in October, and all applicants hear back in March of the following year. In comparison, US optometry school applications open at the end of June and applicants are admitted on a rolling basis, meaning you will hear back earlier if you apply earlier. Also, US schools require applicants to complete their applications on the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS), which is a platform with various sections and documents that must be uploaded before being sent out to specific optometry schools. This was a lot to work on, so it was a good idea to start early. For more information on the US requirements, check out our articles: OptomCAS Application Guide, Personal Statement Guide, and Obtaining Reference Letters. I worked on my applications for all optometry programs for a couple of months before submitting them at the end of August.

IV.Fourth Year of Undergrad (Sept 2020 – Apr 2021)

In September 2020, I started my fourth and final year at UBC. Because US optometry schools run on a rolling basis, I also started hearing back at this time. All three of the US schools I applied to extended interview offers and I was able to schedule the interviews within the same week in mid-September. This was a good idea because once you receive an offer of admission, you are only given two weeks to accept the offer and pay a deposit to keep your seat in the class. If you do not pay the deposit, you lose your offer and seat in the class. A good tip for interviews is to try to schedule the interviews close together. Ideally, if you receive multiple offers of admission, you can decide which school to attend and pay the deposit for. This would save you money instead of having your interviews spaced further apart and feeling like you must accept and pay multiple deposits because you’re uncertain about how subsequent interviews will go.

In December 2020, I was offered an interview spot at Waterloo’s Meet and Greet. Because this was still during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Meet and Greet was virtual and I was required to complete the Casper Snapshot exam instead. Afterwards, I did not receive any feedback and all applicants had to wait until the end of March for admission letters to be sent out. For the rest of my fourth year, I continued to finish up courses to fulfill my bachelor’s degree requirements while working and volunteering at the two optometry clinics. At the end of March 2021, I received my admission offer from Waterloo. I accepted the offer and paid the deposit before graduating from UBC in June with a bachelor’s degree in biology!

V. Is It Hard to Get Into Optometry School?

Getting into optometry school is competitive, but very achievable with early preparation. Schools look for applicant's GPA (keep in mind that many schools in America, such as the New England College of Optometry or Illinois College, also consider science GPA), solid OAT scores, and meaningful clinical or volunteer experience. Many applicants apply to multiple programs to improve their chances. Optometry schools seek well-rounded candidates who can balance academics with real-world exposure and professionalism. With consistency, preparation, and passion for eye care, you can absolutely stand out as a strong applicant. 

Building a Strong Academic Background

Optometry school applicants require disciplined study habits and community involvement from the very first day of classes. Throughout my four years of my Bachelor's degree as a pre-optometry student, I made it a priority to cultivate these qualities by consistently managing a full course load each semester. This was particularly important, as programs such as the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science, require applicants to demonstrate the ability to handle a full academic schedule with required courses for a minimum of six terms. During my first and second years, I completed many of the prerequisite courses in the natural sciences, math, and physical sciences that were required by most optometry schools across Canada and the United States. I strongly recommend researching these prerequisite courses early to plan your coursework strategically before the admissions process. This is especially true for academically demanding subjects such as organic chemistry, physics, and molecular biology. If you are ever uncertain about course scheduling and/or workload, consulting an academic advisor early can be very helpful! For more information on average GPA requirements per school, check out our article Optometry School Statistics to get more information on the average GPA of the incoming class per optometry school.

Gaining Clinical Experience

Developing hands-on clinical experience was essential to becoming a strong applicant for more competitive schools. Early in my undergraduate studies, specifically in my first semester, I began shadowing optometrists, observing routine eye exams, contact lens fittings, and ocular disease management to ensure I truly saw myself pursuing optometry! Keep in mind that many optometry schools require applicants to complete a minimum number of shadowing hours to demonstrate exposure to the profession. So, accumulating these hours not only fulfilled that requirement but also allowed me to understand the day-to-day responsibilities of optometrists and the importance of patient communication and individualized care. To continue building on this foundation, I started working as an optometric assistant in the summer of my second year, where I interacted directly with patients, conducted preliminary testing, and assisted with procedures such as visual field testing and ocular imaging. This role strengthened both my technical skills and my ability to navigate a clinical environment effectively, further demonstrating my readiness for the hands-on nature of optometry school. In my fourth year, I tied these experiences together in my thesis project where I studied a topic I became interested in through examining vision therapy and low vision patients during my time as an optometric assistant. By integrating my clinical observations and practical knowledge into research, I was able to showcase my ability to connect academic learning with real-world optometry applications.

Preparing for the OAT

The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a standardized test and is one of the most important components of the optometry school application process, evaluating your knowledge in biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, quantitative reasoning, and reading comprehension. I dedicated the summer after my third year entirely to OAT preparation, using OATBooster as my primary study resource. While the average OAT score is a 300, I knew that I wanted to score at least a 350+ to set me up for success when applying to the U.S. and Canada. OATBooster provided structured study schedules, practice exams, detailed video explanations, and realistic practice questions that closely mirrored the actual exam format. I followed a consistent study plan of 6-8 hours a day, dedicating specific days to each subject area before my exam date. I began with comprehensive content review to strengthen my foundation, then gradually shifted to timed practice tests to build endurance and improve pacing. Regularly reviewing mistakes and revisiting weaker topics helped me reinforce my understanding and refine my test-taking strategy. If you would like more information on how to study for this standardized test, check our our articles:  How to Study for the OAT and What to Expect on OAT Exam Day.

While I prepared for the OAT during the summer before my final year, I strongly recommend writing it earlier, ideally in the summer after your second year. Completing the test sooner allows additional time to retake it if necessary! 

VI. Planning your Third Year of Undergrad

Your third year of undergraduate studies is one of the most critical stages in preparing for optometry school. In my third year, I continued working at a private practice where I had developed valuable hands-on experience in patient care and clinical procedures alongside other pre-optometry students. Alongside this, I began studying for the OAT using structured resources, such as OATBooster, to help plan my study schedule and understand the application process in greater depth. I also made a conscious effort to build meaningful connections with my professors, seeking mentorship and future recommendation letters for my application as I wanted to ensure it was a meaningful and strong letter.

Depending on your readiness, you may choose to apply at the end of your third year, if your prerequisites, OAT test scores, and community services requirements are completed. If you are interested in applying, ensure you are familiar with OptomCas application portal which you will use to apply to many American schools and complete your supplemental applications. Check out our article on navigating the website: OptomCas Application Guide. If you are unsure of what school to apply to, check out our article to choose the best optometry school for you! 

VII. Planning your Fourth Year of Undergrad

By fourth year, things start to come full circle, you’re finishing up your degree, managing advanced courses, and wrapping up your optometry applications. Personally, I tried to complete my OptomCas supplemental applications in early September for American schools as it is recommended to apply early for schools with rolling admissions (I only applied to the New England College of Optometry), and then focused on my University of Waterloo application, which was due in November. Be sure to check out our article on “How to Write a Personal Statement” to ensure you are presenting yourself as best as possible in your personal statement. I completed my interview days by early January, which felt like such a relief. However, even though I had a conditional admission from the admissions department, I still had to maintain a high GPA (both cumulative and science GPA). In particular, I had to continue showing consistency in my grade trends and extracurricular activities, such as my commitment to the pre-optometry club, even after I accepted my offer from the University of Waterloo's admissions committee. Keep in mind, that official transcripts still have to be sent to your school of interest even after you accepted your offer!

V. Conclusion

As you can see, applying to optometry school, or any professional program, is an entire process that involves many steps. Hopefully, sharing some insight into my personal timeline will serve as a helpful reference if you are a student considering pursuing optometry but unsure of where to start. More importantly, remember that we are all on our individual journeys and there is no correct path or formula to becoming an optometrist. Even if you are currently missing some requirements or did not decide on optometry until later in life, it is never too late to start, and I have written many articles to help you out. Feel free to give them a read and good luck on your journey!